Halley Quillinan's Weekend Watch: It's Anyone's Game

Heading into the weekend, Northwestern reigns supreme in the No. 1 spot trailed by a handful of the usual suspects. After that, it’s seemingly anyone’s game as ups, downs and upsets have been a common theme in 2012. Here’s what to watch this weekend:

FRIDAY, MARCH 30

North Carolina vs. Duke

The rivalry comes to a head this weekend in Chapel Hill as Duke travels to take on the No. 3 Tar Heels on Friday evening. UNC, whose only loss of the year came at the hands of Georgetown, enters the match looking to put together a more complete outing as their last two were uncharacteristic of the Carolina team we’ve seen this year. Duke, on the other hand, enters this game in need of making a statement.

The Blue Devils looked like they were going to be the team to beat after upsetting then-No. 2 Maryland in February. But, Duke struggled against Stony Brook and most recently dropped a pair of losses to Dartmouth and Virginia. Katherine Thomas still remains sidelined due to a foot injury, but the Blue Devils boast the talent to be a Final Four team without her. Kim Wenger and Emma Hamm are forces to be reckoned with and rookie Kerrin Maurer has been having a standout year in Durham.

When the pair of ACC powers collide on Friday evening, the game will undoubtedly be an up-and-down exciting match as two of the top midfield units in the nation are set to square off. Carolina owns the edge offensively, as Becky Lynch and Abbey Friend combine to form a lethal 1-2 punch for the Heels and Laura Zimmerman has been place a much more offensive role this year. Defensively I’d say the edge tips in UNC’s favor, as well. But, in 2012 it seems like anything can happen as this ACC tilt could prove to be the game of the weekend.

Player to Watch: Kerrin Maurer, Duke, Attack (Fr.)

The rookie attacker has the ability to do it all offensively and has come up in clutch situations a number of times this spring. She currently leads the Blue Devils in goals and assists.

SATURDAY, MARCH 31ST

Virginia vs. Boston College

Both the Eagles and the Cavaliers have struggled to put a full 60-minute outing together in 2012. Each squad has had moments of brilliance as Virginia owns one of No. 2 Syracuse’s two losses on the year and Boston College recently took North Carolina down to the wire. However, unimpressive outings and losses to unranked opponents leave both teams out of midseason conversation.

UVA boasts a slew of talented seniors on the attacking end, but their most impressive play may be what we have seen from their underclassmen. Rookie Daniela Eppler is playing like a veteran for the ‘Hoos on defense and sophomore Sloan Warren has recently been providing an impressive spark on attack. Warren ranks second on the team in points (19g, 4a) and has only started three games on the season. It’s much the same story for Boston College as the Eagles are led by a duo of highly touted freshmen. Rookies Covie Stanwick (19g, 14a) and Mikaela Rix (28g, 2a) are leading the Eagles, a team that has struggled to find a win in the top 20.

This weekend, the match proves to be a crucial one for both squads looking to improve their record in the ACC. Although both teams are out of contention for a first-round bye in the tournament, seeding will decide who will faceoff with a ranked opponent vs. who will faceoff with a young Virginia Tech squad. Look for this game to be a battle.

Player To Watch: Josie Owen, Virginia, Attack (Sr.)

The senior attacker leads her team in virtually everything other than ground balls, which she ranks second in. Owen, making a strong case for All American contention, has 49 points (21g, 28a) on the year.

Princeton vs. Cornell

Both the Tigers and the Big Red find themselves right in the thick of things in Ivy League play as the pair of foes sit third and fourth in the conference heading into the weekend. Princeton, 4-3 on the year, boasts one impressive win over Virginia on the year while Cornell has yet to top a ranked opponent this spring. The weekend’s matchup is especially critical given the fact that only four teams qualify for the Ivy League Tournament, which will likely be both squad’s best chance for an NCAA bid at this juncture. The Tigers are led by attackers Jaci Gassaway (20g, 9a) and Erin McMunn (6g, 17a) and midfielder Cassie Pyle (20g, 2a). Cornell relies more on one player than Princeton and that player is Jessi Steinberg (27, 13a).

Cornell has proven that they can hang with the best of them, most recently falling just a goal shy of upsetting Penn. In 33 meetings, Cornell has topped the Tigers only three times. That most recent win came two seasons ago in Princeton. If Cornell hopes to best Princeton, they will need to put together a team effort to do so as All American defender Lindsey deButts will look to stifle All-Ivy attacker Jessi Steinberg. Cornell’s ability to put forth a team effort will be difference in this game.

Player To Watch: Olivia Knotts, Cornell, Attack (Sr.)

Knotts has emerged as Cornell’s second scoring threat this season. She has flourished in her role as a senior attacker and sits second on the team in points behind Steinberg.

Northwestern vs. Ohio State

In the second game of the afternoon in Gillette Stadium, the Wildcats enter the match No. 1 in the nation as OSU is 8-2 and has yet to win an ALC match this season. The Buckeyes took Florida down to the wire in Columbus last weekend. Northwestern has been on cruise control this spring as the reigning national champions have topped a number of ranked opponents this spring.

Ohio State has yet to secure a win vs. a team currently ranked in the top 20. Despite close run-ins with Notre Dame and Florida, they pair of losses showed OSU’s a force to be reckoned with. Alayna Markwordt is in her final season as a Buckeye and has yet to beat Northwestern. If Ohio State hopes to run with the ‘Cats they’ll need to find an answer to keep Shannon Smith in check, a task no team has successfully done this season. The key to winning this game for OSU will be possession off draw controls and offensively and finding an answer for Smith. If none of the above can be done, Northwestern will undoubtedly continue to roll; but, I expect the Buckeyes to put up a fight.

Player To Watch: Gabby Capuzzi, Ohio State, Midfield (Sr.)

The senior middie currently sits third on the team in points, but leads OSU in ground balls (23), draw controls (32) and caused turnovers (23).